There are no real "official Muslim names". It's understandable if someone thought of names like "Abdullah (slave of God)" or "Amatullah (female slave of God)"; "Abdurahman (slave of Merciful God)"; "Noor Udeen (light of the religion)", as being "Muslim names". But these are people's names who may or may not have been Muslims.

Names like "Abdullah" or "Khadijah" were popular even before Islam came to the Arabian desert over 1,400 years ago.

Arabs also used the OPPOSITE MEANING of Names. Superstition prevailed in the times before Islam and the idolators (mushrikeen) believed giving opposite meaning of a name you would protect the child from having that trait or charateristic. This is likely why so many of the companions had names that were so strange, and were told to change their names by the prophet, peace be upon him.

Khadijah is a good example of this custom. It can mean: aborted or premature - a child born before the end of full term of gestation; especially 3 or more weeks prior.

However, we Muslims like names for our children with nice meanings or names to remind of certain qualities we want for in our children.

It is common for Muslims today to misunderstand the purpose and value of the names we give our children.

Just because a word or name is in the Quran or hadeeth of our prophet, peace be upon him - DOESN'T MEAN IT IS GOOD.

As a matter of fact, many of the names in use today by Muslims around the world are not in line with Islamic teachings regarding what we should name our children (or rename someone who comes to Islam).

OK. Now that we cleared that up, let's review some names we've been told have meanings of names (for girls) in Arabic (although as you will see - some may not even be Arabic at all):